The Haitian rapper, whose former band member Lauryn Hill also graced the Tobago Jazz Experience stage last year, will perform tonight alongside Jamaican dancehall legend, Shabba Ranks.

Jean attendance at Tobago Jazz Experience comes after the original headliner, American R&B and Neo Soul singer Michael ‘D’Angelo’ Eugene Archer pulled out due to the death of his grandfather.

In a brief interview with Newsday, chairman of the Tobago Jazz Experience committee, John Arnold assured that Jean would be coming and that he was expected to be in TT by 1 pm today.

Jean is also expected to share the stage with local band, Kes the Band tonight.

Jean became a popular artiste when the Fugees first achieved widespread commercial success with their second album, The Score in 1996.

The Fugees’ musical career spawned hits such as Fu-Gee- La, a re-make of Roberta Flak’s Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not among others.

In 1997, Jean embarked on a solo career after the Fugees disbanded that same year. He released his first solo album known as the Carnival, and has since worked with a number of artistes, among them Colombian singer Shakira.

Although, Jean was not initially the committee’s first choice as a replacement. Arnold told Newsday, “It is not an easy process but it worked out… The negotiations took place and we were able to contract the performer….” When asked if he was the initial choice after D’Angelo, Arnold said, “no.” He said, however, that everything is okay for today’s World Music Night.

The Tobago Jazz Experience is in its ninth year and will feature other performers such as Boo Hinkson, Arita Edmund, Chromatics, LLettesha Sylvester, Elan Trotman and Akinola Sennon.

The closing night of the Tobago Jazz Experience will headline Grace Jones at its Beach Jazz Fiesta. The festival ran from April 22 to 30 this year, and its opening night at Speyside saw reggae group Morgan Heritage performing.

There were some changes to this year’s festival with its budget being cut by TT$3 million [the festival received a $12 million budget this year] and the change in a third night, which was replaced by this year’s Sun, Sea and Jazz at Pigeon point Heritage Park. Before there were also performances on the Saturday night of the event.

This year’s line-up drew mixed reactions from members of the public. It remains to be seen if Wyclef Jean’s coming will change things for some.

The dance, entitled These Four Walls, touched on the topic of teen suicide and the struggles that teenagers go through with life’s many challenges, sometimes contemplating whether they should live or take the easy way out when life becomes too tough.

The piece was choreographed by the school’s dance instructor, Kizzy Murray.

There was also no noticeable increase in security at the courthouse at St Vincent Street yesterday, and Court and Process police officers at the court rubbished reports that prisoners were beaten when they became unruly after their court appearance in the Eighth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

This was after they complained loudly when Deputy Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle adjourned their matters to next month.

Busby Earle-Caddle is acting as chief magistrate until an appointment is made by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and said she needed to get advice on how to proceed with some of the cases which were listed before Ayers-Caesar.

Two weeks ago concerns of Ayers-Caesar’s unfinished cases were raised and earlier this week, Law Association president Douglas Mendes, SC, said the association will hold discussions with Chief Justice Ivor Archie, the attorney general and the director of public prosecutions to find a workable solution.

Mendes, on behalf of the association, also expressed “immediate concerns about the fact that a judge was appointed and took up office leaving behind outstanding, partheard matters.” He said it was unfair that anyone should suffer the expense and anxiety of an avoidable, repeat trial.

“The full extent of the prejudice which may have been caused is not yet known,” he said.

At the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, Merry Boys posted a score of 139 runs for eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs with opener Mario Belcon blazing his way to 53 (29 deliveries, five fours and four sixes) while Rishaad Harris chipped in with an unbeaten 31 (36 deliveries, two fours).

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein was the best bowler for the Parkites with three wickets for 19 runs, while medium pacer Kevon Cooper had 2/25 and another left-arm spinner, Khary Pierre, got 2/34.

Terrance Hinds, batting at number 10, had an enterprising knock of 33 (12 balls, three fours and three sixes) to revive the chase while Hosein and Javon Searles made 26 apiece as Queen’s Park were eventually bowled out for 121 in 18.4 overs. Current TT Red Force captain Marlon Richards snapped up 5/33 and left-arm spinner Ricky Jaipaul chipped in with 2/27.

Other Results – At St Mary’s College Ground, St Clair: HKL ARANJUEZ 128/3 (20 overs) – Samuel Felix 64 not out; Dominic Drakes 2/23 vs QUEEN’S PARK II 129/2 (16.1 overs) – Camillo Carimbocas 41 not out, Kirstan Kallicharan 31 not out. Queen’s Park II won by eight wickets.

At Prisons Sports Club, Arouca: CANE FARM SPORTS 162/7 (20 overs) – Alcindo Holder 86, Shakeel Allick 25, Romel Nanan 21; Narindra Bridgelal 3/31, Javed Boodram 2/21 vs TT PRISONS 82 (16.5 overs) – Denzil James 18; Anthony Simmons 3/11, T Alleyne 3/29, Devon Clement 2/18. Cane Farm Sports won by 80 runs.

At Wilson Road, Penal: CLARKE ROAD 138/9 (20 overs) – Kyle Hope 77; Mark Deyal 4/18, D Johnson 2/39 vs POWERGEN 141/8 (19.5 overs) – Evin Lewis 53; Samuel Roopnarine 4/21, Ahkeel Mollon 2/20. PowerGen won by two wickets.

At Pierre Road Ground, Charlieville: VICTORIA SPORTS 159/9 (20 overs) – Andrae Bryce 31, Sherwin Ganga 28, H Mitchell 26, K Kanhai 22, Garey Mathurin 22; Rayad Emrit 3/20, Imran Khan 3/30, Bryan Charles 2/19 vs ALESCON COMETS 112/9 (20 overs) – Rayad Emrit 43; Garey Mathurin 3/25, Sherwin Ganga 2/15, V Rampersad 2/25. Victoria Sports won by 47 runs.

“It is true that Darren has initiated legal action against us,” WICB chief executive Johnny Grave told ESP Ncricinfo. “It has come as a surprise as I was under the impression we had agreed a way back for him. I’m very disappointed and yes, a bit frustrated.” Bravo has not played for the West Indies since having his match contract cancelled last November prior to the tri-nation series with Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. His contract was cancelled after calling WICB president a Dave Cameron a “big idiot” on Twitter after the Jamaican said Bravo was not performing while on a WICB ‘A’ retainer contract and was subsequently demoted to tier ‘C’ to motivate him to improve.

Bravo said he has never been offered an ‘A’ contract.

His lawyer yesterday argued that no one contacted Bravo or his lawyers prior to the publishing of the article which resulted in “omissions and mischaracterisations in this piece.” It was explained that subsequent to the termination of Bravo’s match contract last year, Bravo’s attorneys wrote to the WICB on the 22nd, November 2016, while following the stipulations in his match tour contract which mandated a series of steps to be taken prior to the commencement of legal proceedings.

It was immediately put forward to the WICB by Bravo’s attorneys that the Board’s actions were considered unlawful and he was claiming loss and damage and submitted a report on the matter as required.

“Following the exchange of reports on the matter, a meeting of the parties and their representatives was convened and a number of issues and possible resolution discussed. The present Chief Executive Officer was not part of any of the above interactions but did become involved subsequently and proposed a possible settlement of the matter on the 9th March, 2017 which was four-pronged in construct.

“While agreement could be reached on three of these conditions, the issue of damages remained and on the 11th April, 2017 Mr Bravo’s attorneys so informed the WICB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Johnny Grave in writing.

Mr Grave never responded to Mr Bravo’s counsel’s letter of 11th April ,2017 but has made statements that have been published in the press without the full context of the matter which serves to create further issues.” The press release yesterday indicated that Bravo will continue to pursue his dispute with the WICB as is necessary with respect for the process which mandates a possible eleven step engagement ( that includes mediation and arbitration) and which has reached stage four and after consideration of the WICB’s Chief Executive Officer’s actions and comments which may have cast this matter in a different light .

Police said Shaquille Farrell was shot once in the head at about 8 pm on Wednesday. According to residents, gunshots were heard in the area and on checking, they found Farrell bleeding on the ground. The body was viewed by a District Medical Officer and removed to the Forensic Science Centre.

Residents told Newsday that Farrell sold sweets and cigarettes in Port-of-Spain and was well-known. Yesterday at the Centre, Farrell’s grandparents Elsie and Standford Moses viewed his body before an autopsy was carried out.

A distraught Elsie said, “He use to throw javelin and play football.

His mother left when he was a baby. I used to hold him with one hand and it was I who christened him when he was seven. He wasn’t a rude fella. When he leave home, I tell him don’t go down by Nelson Street…

they will kill you and I asked him to listen to my advice.

Both grandparents claimed they did not know if Farrell was involved in any criminal activity and revealed that his father Kevin Moses and uncle Akido Moses, were murdered some years ago. Farrell’s death was the 37th murder for April and the 165th for the year. No arrest has been made.

Justice Mira Dean-Armorer earlier this month found that Williams, Devon Welch and Juliet Davy defamed Welch in 2010 by labelling him as gay and being guilty of extortion during radio programmes they hosted called The War Room and The Ground Report.

Dean-Armorer acknowledged that this society has not yet evolved to be indifferent or acceptant to alternative sexual orientations.

She said a person’s sexual orientation cannot be of public interest as she dismissed the fair comment defence of the radio hosts.

In his notice of appeal filed by attorney Michael Rooplal, Williams contends that the judge erred in fact and law when she found that he uttered words defamatory of Welch.

He also insists that there was no evidence that he defamed his competitor.

Another of Williams’ grounds for challenging the judge’s decision is that the issue of homosexuality was no longer a taboo topic in T&T’s society, therefore any imputation regarding the sexual orientation of Welch was not defamatory.

At the trial, Williams, Michael Kerr and Lennox Smith gave evidence concerning Welch’s sexual orientation.

Williams also testified that he was the subject of sexual advances by Welch on a number of occasions.

In his appeal, Williams said, given his evidence as well as the testimony of Smith and Kerr, he discharged the legal onus placed on him to prove that Welch was a homosexual. He further argued that Welch failed to provide any evidence of specific damage to his career or reputation to justify the award of $70,000.

Williams has also applied to the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution of Dean-Armorer’s order which comes up for hearing on June 12. No date has yet been fixed for the appeal.

Both rejected Opposition claims that the tax was unconstitutional; criminals were posing as property valuators; people are in imminent danger of losing their homes and public servants sabotaged plans by the People’s Partnership (PP) government to repeal the Property Tax Act, which is on this country’s law books since 2009.

“I know people don’t like property tax. I and all vex with mehself because I have to pay,” Imbert told reporters. “I don’t like it but this country is in a very difficult position and we need everybody to contribute to the revenues of the country.” Reiterating the country has found itself facing a $20 billion gap in financing, which started under the PP, Imbert said, “Things are tough. We have to look for alternative sources of financing.” Saying Government will do all it can to make it, “as easy as possible for people,” Imbert said the Property Tax Act allows for persons in an impoverished condition to apply for a deferral. “I am looking at that to see whether we should convert that deferral into a complete waiver,” he stated. On concerns about a $500 penalty if documents are not submitted to the Ministry by May 22, Imbert said, “The Minister of Finance is not going to fine anybody. Neither is the Commissioner of Valuations.” He explained the current exercise which requests property owners to file a return of their properties, “flows from the Valuation of Land Act and not the Property Tax Act. He explained these documents are used by his ministry’s Valuations Division to put a final assessment on the rental, a notice is then sent to property owners informing them of this and their requirement to pay property tax which is three percent of the assessed rental value.

Imbert said this was stage one of the process and “we are a long way away” from valuators coming to people’s properties. He explained that persons whose properties are already in the system only need to submit copies of a utility bill which provides their address and an old land and building tax receipt, which would have their assessment number.

Agreeing with Young about misinformation and fear being spread by the Opposition about property tax, Imbert said the latest allegation came from St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar about public servants sabotaging the PP’s efforts to repeal the Property Tax Act. “That is a lie!” he declared. He said the facts are, “the PP brought legislation to the Parliament to repeal the Property Tax Act and it lapsed.” Imbert said close examination of that legislation showed it was,” ten times more draconian than they claimed the Property Tax was.”

In a brief press release issued by the Judiciary’s Court Protocol and Information Unit, CJ Archie first said that Ayers-Caesar was selected for elevation after a “robust” selection process by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) which he heads.

However, he added, Ayers-Caesar “failed to manage the transition from the magistracy to the High Court in a way which ensured that undue hardship was not placed on stakeholders.” CJ Archie added that Ayers-Caesar departed from “established practice” where successful candidates ensured they fulfilled all outstanding professional obligations before advising the Commission of their availability to be appointed to the High Court. Archie claimed neither he nor the JLSC were made aware of the “full extent” of Ayers-Caesar’s obligations to the lower courts before President Anthony Carmona fixed the date of her swearing-in as a judge.

Archie in the release said he was “fortified” by Ayers-Caesar’s renewed commitment to place her duty and responsibility to the administration of justice ahead of personal interest as he noted her willingness to attend to matters pending in the magistrates courts which she would have presided over prior to her elevation.

Within these circumstances, the release added, the JLSC met and agreed to restore Ayers-Caesar to the magisterial bench. Archie urged members of the legal profession and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system to continue to render the suppport needed to ensure efficient disposition of matters in the criminal justice system.

(See Page 10A)

The play will be led by Raymond Choo Kong and Debra Boucaud-Mason, and supported by Rachel Bascombe, Kevon Brooks, Renee King and Trevon C Jugmohan __ all former cast members of the hit Death at a Funeral… Trini Style.

As the story goes, Bernard (Raymond Choo Kong) is a successful and outstanding member of society. However, it turns out that he’s not the squeaky clean husband he’s thought to be, and to make matters worse, neither is Jaqueline (Rachel Bascombe) his wife.

Adding to the drama are their “mutual friend” Rajesh Sharma __ from San Juan, (Trevon C Jugmohan), the hottest side-chick ever __ Suzanne (Renee King), the ‘baddess bad-john’ – Mano (Kevon Brooks) and the most outlandish and scandalous maid __ Suzette (Debra Boucaud-Mason).

For more info call 477- 0772 or 384-8663.